The loud sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the long hallway of the palace, the war commander strode towards his highness' quarters. With a drop of sweat falling from his forehead, he pushed the door open.
"Your highness, it's your father...he is..uhh..."
He said, struggling to find a delicate and respectful way of telling him that his bedridden father, whom he despised very openly to the eyes of everyone in the kingdom, was on the verge of death and had ordered for his presence.
He caught his highness' impatient gaze on him, his emerald eyes promising horrible fates if he didn't speak up. It was enough he interrupted his reading session.
Cedric straightened his posture and cleared the hesitation out of his throat, then spoke,
"Forgive me your majesty, but your father has requested for you. The medics do not believe he will last any longer, so we must hurry back. He wishes to convey something to you and only you."
He asserted with urgency, deliberately using the word 'requested' to avoid getting any resistance from his highness, the crowned prince.
To his surprise, a full grin plastered onto his face in a second. Shutting his book almost immediately and springing out of his chair,
"Say you swear he is finally dying."
He exclaimed happily with full steps towards the door. Cedric stood in astonishment as he brushed past him and out into the hallway, headed straight for his dying father's quarters. It was no secret that father and son, king and crowned prince were not in good terms with one another. Infact, it was so obvious to the point that visitors from other Kingdoms would watch in uncomfortable silence whenever political meetings were held because they couldn't stop arguing. But never had anyone thought that the hate would be taken to the grave as well. Never had anyone thought that the prince, only offspring to the king, would wish death apon his own father.
Cedric hurriedly turned on his heels, tailing his highness immediately. Alexander pushed the doors open, finding an entire group of people in the room. Medics and maids along with a few lords and ladies gathered around the bed. Cedric entered shortly after.
The king lay in bed, eyes sunken and stripped of any life left in them. His frail hand lifted slightly and gestured for his son to go closer. And he did, excusing everyone else in the room other than the medics and his war commander, Cedric who stood respectfully in the corner.
Alexander stood tall before his father, not bothering to sit or bend a little to hear what his dry lips whispered.
"Please..."
He managed to choke out in a hoarse voice that was barely clear but audible.
"Please dont...." *cough*
"...don't ruin the peace..."
He managed to say, his hand lifting as if to touch Alexander but hardly reaching before falling back down, lifeless.
The medics rushed over and checked him hastily. Alexander stood still, his eyes locked into his dead father's, and with an audible scoff, stepped back.
The medic stretched his hand out and closed the late king's eyes before stepping back.
Cedric was in disbelief, silently processing the late king's death.
"Walk with me."
Alexander ordered, heading towards the door that he flung open and stepped out. The maids, lords and ladies re-occupied the room as Cedric chased after Alexander.
"We are good friends, aren't we Cedric?" Alexander asked.
"Yes, we are."
Cedric answered surely.
"Then why haven't you offered your condolences to me?"
He fired, sounding serious for a moment. If anyone else had been in that situation, they would've been scared out of their minds but since it was Cedric, he knew that Alexander was an unserious man who liked to joke from time to time.
"Because I know that you are happy and you do not care."
He answered, earning a smile from Alexander.
"You shouldn't be. It is immoral."
Cedric added, making Alexander pout in disagreement.
They walked towards the strategy chamber, entering the room with full authority where they gathered the attention of all the knights that had not long ago been chattering and laughing.
"My father has passed."
Alexander declared, proceeding towards the strategy table with a fully laid map of the Kingdoms. The knights looked at each other with eerie glances, not knowing how to respond to his declaration.
"Prepare the troops."
He ordered. Everyone looked at each other with confusion, what did he mean?
"What are you talking about?"
Cedric said. Eyes turning to him as he walked towards Alexander at the table.
"I'm talking about conquest, Cedric."
He answered. "We shall conquer the other kingdoms."
Whispers erupted in the chambers. Confusion and disapproval but no one deared to speak their opinions out loud.
"But Alex, that is absurb. Why would you want to conquer the other kingdoms? How...would you even conquer them?"
Cedric opposed, his view recieving nods of approval from the other knights.
"Well...." Alex began, "The kingdoms are seven, correct? Eldoria, our motherland, being the biggest and strongest in the far south."
He explained, pointing at their kingdom on the map.
"Then there is Zythis in the far east which is second to strongest and Thelorin in the far west, third to strongest." His finger moved swiftly on the map, marking out the kingdoms as he spoke. Everyone had now gathered at the strategy table, intrigued by his plan
"You, Cedric, shall lead the army to the east where you shall conquer Zythis. I trust you because you are a strong and intelligent man and you shall bring us victory. Your second in command shall lead the army to the west to attack Thelorin, and my chosen troops and I shall charge straight into the center for Aurela, Elaris and Solmira, the smaller kingdoms."
He laid out his plan and everyone looked impressed, his strategy was good and by the look of it had a high chance of success.
"We all know the big deal here, the kingdom in the far north, Arkanos."
Alexander continued, now addressing the question everyone had in mind.
"The people of Arkanos possess magic and shall not be easy to take down, which is why I'm sending everyone in different directions so we can all meet in the north. Since the three central kingdoms are small, our fight shall not last and we will invade Arkanos before the eastern and western troops. Once we have all assembled in Arkanos, we shall finish our conquest, and we'll see what follows then. Any questions?"
He finished his presentation, looking around the room for any look of disapproval on anyone's face. No one deared to even move, no one except Cedric who came forth.
"Why?"
He queried but got nothing but a questioning look from Alexander.
"Why what?"—Alexander
"Why would you want to do this? Your father has just passed. Is this what he meant when he told you not to 'ruin the peace'?"
Cedric argued, his intentions clear that he wasn't ready to back down.
"Cedric you–"
"No, Alex. I'm sorry to speak so baldy before you and overstep my boudary, but you have not even been coronated and you want to talk about conquest? You want to bring war and suffering upon innocent people...upon Kingdoms that have held peace and harmony for centuries. Alex, you–"
Cedric tried to speak sense into him but was interrupted.
"It's your highness."
Alexander reprimanded coldly, making Cedric quiet.
"Any more objections?" He asked morely in a threatening than questioning tone. The room was dead silent, the air thick with hesitation. It earned him a happy smile.
"Good, now prepare the troops."
He said before striding out of the room.
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The troops were prepared, word had not gone out further than the palace and no matter how much anyone tried to speak to him, he'd turn a deaf ear to every voice that didn't praise his strategy. He was the king after all.
"Keep the word in a short range. That means none of the civilians should know."
Alexander ordered, mounting his dark stallion that stood tall and strong.
"Ok, do not disappoint me."
He shouted to his troops, giving a warning that all knew. Once you lose a battle and managed to come back alive, it was automatic beheading.
Cedric sighed and turned to his assigned troops, the men looking at him on their horses.
"Do not take anyone's life unless it is absolutely necessary, that is your only order from me. Otherwise, don't die."
He said, receiving a sharp "Yes sir!!" From the soldiers before the horses were set on the routes.